CARLSBAD (NEWS 8) – The community came together to help 13-year-old Keane Webre Hayes, who was bitten by a shark a week ago, during a fundraiser in Carlsbad Friday night at the Flag Football League.
The Flag Football League is where Keane took the field every Friday and his football family wanted to support him while recovers from the shark bite.
Officials with the Friday Night Lights (FNL) League said Keane played for the Cincinnati Bearcats last fall and they wanted to set up donation buckets and write get well cards on the fields Friday night.
“When I saw the picture, I was like, oh my goodness that is one of ours. That has to be so difficult for the family,” said Mario Rosario, FNL coach.
Keane was bitten by a shark last Saturday in Encinitas while diving for lobsters is expected to make a full recovery. On Thursday, he was released from Rady Children's Hospital.
Keane's mother, Ellie Hayes, described her family as "blessed" in light of her son's good prognosis for a full recovery. She praised his positive attitude in the aftermath of the traumatic experience, calling him "very brave, very strong."
"He's a warrior," she said.
Although Keane is no longer in the league, the FNL said there are about 200 players and coaches and everyone is considered family. “When we knew one of our own was affected, we wanted to help out as much as we could and support the family through this rough time. I didn’t know we were going to have that kind of response. It was an amazement,” said Mario.
Researchers at California State University Long Beach’s shark lab have been analyzing the shark’s DNA from the wetsuit and wound. They were expected to release what type of shark bit Keane but have not posted the results.
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